Happy Thanksgiving

Well Happy Thanksgiving to the folks that read this blog. I am sitting here full of food and feeling really blessed and thankful.
We have had three dinners and have one more to go to tommorrow.
I've had a busy weekend....Like Ken blogged I to went to the mall but went in the early morning. It was pretty fun. Our future church office is located in the mall in Benton Harbor. So I drove an hour to meet Brian (pastor) and a coulpe of new friends to talk to people in the mall shopping. We handled a raffle ticket thing for the mall (long story). Then I had to be in Whitehall to take some senior pictures for a kid.
It's been fun to be part of a church plant. I can't wait to live closer.
My son Mike came home for the weekend. He is doing well in his internship. He is pretty sure he'll be offered a job at the end but I don't know if he'll take it. The church and people have been great. He just can't stand Toledo.
Deb and I can't wait until Christmas when both boys are home and we have the whole clan together again.
Well I;m rambling..time to get my bloated butt to bed.
Randy

Gospel Shrinkage

"I was in the pool!!" Okay anytime I hear the word shrinkage I think of George....forgive me!
I had to jot this down in my blog just so I don't forget the concept or ideas floating in my head.
I just read a section in Brian McLarens book about the possibilities of bringing the kingdom of God concept to our current world. The current world of course not a model for succes or equity for all.
He brings to light a concept which I hadn't thought about until now but it seems to make sense. Read the following excerpt from his book.

"Because sin and evil are so "big and ubiquitous" and because the geography of evil extends so far beyond the dimension of the individual soul, any gospel capable of confronting todays' global crises must be correspondingly exapnsive.
Sadly in too many quarters we continue to reduce the scope of the gospel to the individual soul and the nuclear family, framing it in a comfortable, personalized format-it's all about personal devotions, personal holiness, and a personal Savior. The domesticated gospel will neither rock any boats nor step out of them in stormy waters. We have in many ways responded to the big global crises of our day with an incredible, shrinking gospel. the world has said, "No thanks"

This paragraph and chapter really challenged me. I had never thought along the global terms before. But I am tracking with his thoughts. I think back on all the teaching, and books that I have studied and learned under and I can't think of one that has adreesed this issue. It's all about me and my. Or reach out so they can me and my. ;But I see a Jesus portrayed that was concerned with the rejection of the Roman kingdom for a kingdom of God way of life.
I don't read seek ye first a personal realtionship....I read seek ye first the kindom of God...Hmmm
What are your thoughts I'd love to hear them.
Randy

Messed up in reality

Once again my favorite author is messing with my head again. I smile as I wrote that last sentence. I am lying in my bedroom escaping the blaring TV in the other room listening to my new favorite genre of music. A middle aged white guy listening to Modern Gospel. A guy who spent the morning handing out food to convicted arsonists, alchoholics, prostitutes and just the general poor public. God is pulling me to a path that I never expected but I'm having the time of my life!
Back to my favorite author Brian McLaren. His latest book titled "Everything must Change" calls for a radical change in the way in which we in the fundamental Christian community interact with the culture we live in. There is not room to write all he talks about. I would highly recommend reading this book. But beware if you read it! I might find you handing out food to the poor! Or at the very least questioning the suicidal path our world seems to be spiraling down towards.
It is rediculously idealistic to think we could ever live in a world where everyone loves their neighbor (we don't even know them nowadays) and we use our military for humanitarian aid. How about global warming? That seems to be a hot subject. I admit I know nothing about the subject. The deeper question to me would be should we as followers of Jesus care about the planet? Or are we just supposed to use up all it's resources because Gods going to destroy it all in the end anyways? Or so that's what been taught.
Lots to ponder, study,think and talk about.
All I know is if it weren't for my faith in Jesus I wouldn't be optimistic. Only through the power of God can this world be changed. Glad to be a servant in the fight!
God Bless!

My Coach My Coach why hast thou forsaken ME!

Okay I know it's risky to compare Stephanie to Jesus and me to God but here goes....

In the historical account of Jesus life we find that he arrives on the scene with humble beginnings. He is not part of the elite and privileged of the day. He does however posses the knowledge and wisdom to teach us the way humanity was intended to operate. In the end he is hung on a cross by the same people he loved and tried to teach. In the very end he cries out My God My God why have you forsaken me. And then he says it is finished.

I sat in the volleyball awards banquet the other night listening to Stephanies coach give out awards for the different players. With each player she would say a little something about their playing abilities and what they meant to the team. The last player to be mentioned was Stephanie (which didn't suprise me shes been last on the list all year) Her coach talked about Stephanies great attitude and how her knowledge of the game was a help to the team. She never mentioned the fact that the only time they beat Calvin Christisan Stephanie was in the rotation all five games. Or how Stephanie stepped in and played for the other girl who had supposedly broken her thumb.

I caught a small glimpse of what God must have felt when Jesus had to face us humans. It was devastating to see your child overlooked, underappreciated, and basically ignored. The girl that Steph was in line to replace at one point had a bad thumb and pulled groin. She couldn't move more than a 3' radius. Other girls were stepping in front of her to make the plays. There were parents in the stands yelling to put Steph in her place but it didn't help. Stephanie was the only senior that didn't get a chance to play during conference and districts. Meanwhile the girl that couldn't move played all the way through.

I remember in the meeting I had with the coach and the A.D. It was told to me then that she needed to be ready to play her best when she was called on. She got that opportunity at Calvin. (See previous blog Rudy gets a chance) As soon as the other girl was able to play Stephanie was back to sitting at the end of the bench never to be heard from again.

Just like Jesus Stephanie didn't come from one of the chosen families and hadn;t played her junior year due to injury. She wasn't one of the coaches chosen players. She had the skills and the knowledge but was ignored the whole season.

I realize I sound like a angry and frustated parent (which I am) but I am not the only one who saw the blatant unjust treatment. Deb and I had most every parent come to us and tell us it wasn't fair how steph was treated. I had a player and her mother stop me in the hall at a tournament and tell me what a great job Steph was doing. The player looked at me and said "Steph should be getting to play before me!"

Stephanie always (publicly) kept a positive attitude and truly loved her teamates. We as parents got to see the true devastation on the way home from games or tournaments when she would sit the bench all day long while other players with less skill and knowledge got to play in front of her. Her biggest question was Why....It still seems to be her biggest question. This is the last sport she plays in her senior year. It is finished....

The Ressurection

Jesus of course rose from the dead three days later. That is why we call him our savior and serve out his teachings with all our hearts.

Stephanie is still in the tomb wondering if it was all worth the dedicated effort. There were not alot of good life lessons to be gained here. I am concerned for Stephanies sense of self worth lately. Life is hitting her pretty hard lately. We as parents are always encouraging her but we're her parents. Secretly I was hopeing the coach had left Steph for last during the banquet so she could publicly apologize to her. (I feel she is owed that)

Lessons to Learn

I have sent an invitation to the coach and athletic director to read this blog. While I realize it is to late to help Stephanie, it's not to late for someone else. If one of you are reading this I would beg you to remember the kids and families that are involved. I would ask that you treat them with respect and make them feel like they are a valuable part of the team. At the very least keep the lines of communication open. Especially to the ones that aren't the star chosen.

Dillusional or Dissapointed

During the club volleyball season last year we were in a tournament in Indianapolis. Stephanie was at the top of her game. She was always in position whether it was to be there for a tip or be back for a spike. She just seemed to be running on all cylinders that day. During one of the breaks she was approached by a coach from a small private college in Indiana. She asked Steph what her plans were after high school. Steph told her she wasn't going to college right away and that ws pretty much the end of it. I say all this to say Dissapointment would be the proper term.

47yr. Old Virgin

Well Halloween night was a new expereience for me. Overflow church was involved in the Halloween party in the Orchards Mall. We had sponsored a Dial A Ride bus to shuttle between the mall and Berrian Homes. Berrian Homes is the 160 unit low income housing project that we are adopting to serve and introduce to the kingdom of God.
I decided to ride the bus for a while and try to catch some good conversations. I succeeded in having a great conversation with the bus driver who was applauding our vision of how we want to help the community.
At one point we had a shuttle full of people and their was a lull in the conversation. I sat there and realized where I was. Who would have thought that on Halloween night I would be riding a shuttle bus full of african americans in downtown Benton Harbor.
That's all I could think of as I sat there. "you're such a virgin" I thought to myself. Then I snapped out of it and said "this is so cool" I am totally out of my comfort zone here but it's certainly a great adventure!
I'm sure this move to St. Joe is going to be full of new adventures. I guess that's why I can't wait to get out of this town.
Anyways gotta get to bed,
love to all,
Randy